Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display includes a transparent insulation substrate, a first polarizer, and a semiconductor layer, a thin film transistor, and a backlight unit. The first polarizer is disposed on the transparent insulation substrate. The first polarizer includes a light blocking film and metal wires. The semiconductor layer, disposed on the light blocking film, has a perimeter aligned with a perimeter of the light blocking film. The thin film transistor, disposed on the semiconductor layer, includes a source region and a drain region disposed in the semiconductor layer. The backlight unit, disposed under the transparent insulation substrate, provides light to the transparent insulation substrate. The blocking film reflects substantially all of the light. Gaps are disposed between the metal wires.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2012-0120436, filed on Oct. 29, 2012, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and amanufacturing method thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are flat panel displays for displayingimages using light originated from the backlight units of LCDs. Ingeneral, about 50% of such light is wasted because a polarizer of theLCDs absorbs or reflects the light. As a result, only about 50% of thelight generated contributes to the display. Such absorption orreflection causes a decrease in light efficiency and as a result, lowersluminance of LCDs.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a liquid crystaldisplay includes a transparent insulation substrate, a first polarizer,and a semiconductor layer, a thin film transistor, and a backlight unit.The first polarizer is disposed on the transparent insulation substrate.The first polarizer includes a light blocking film and metal wires. Thesemiconductor layer, disposed on the light blocking film, includes aperimeter aligned with a perimeter of the light blocking film. The thinfilm transistor, disposed on the semiconductor layer, includes a sourceregion and a drain region disposed in the semiconductor layer. Thebacklight unit, disposed under the transparent insulation substrate,illuminates light to the transparent insulation substrate. The blockingfilm reflects substantially all of the light. Gaps disposed between themetal wires transmit part of the light.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a liquid crystaldisplay is manufactured by forming a metal layer on a transparentinsulation substrate. A plurality of metal wires and a light blockingfilm are formed by patterning the metal layer. A semiconductor layer isformed on the light blocking film. A perimeter of the semiconductorlayer is aligned with that of the light blocking film. A thin filmtransistor is formed on the semiconductor layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the inventive concept will become moreapparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof withreference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating light reflected from or transmittedthrough a polarizer according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 3 to 11 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method ofmanufacturing a lower panel according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described belowin more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, theinventive concept may be embodied in different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseexemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough and complete and will fully convey the inventive concept tothose skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thickness of layers andregions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals mayrefer to the like elements throughout the specification and drawings.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A liquid crystal display 600 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention includes a backlight unit 500 and a liquid crystalpanel 300. The backlight unit 500 may include a light source (notshown), a light guide (not shown), a reflector (not shown), and anoptical sheet (not shown). Light provided by the light source isprovided to an upper liquid crystal panel through the light guide, thereflector and the optical sheet. According to an exemplary embodiment,the optical sheet may include a luminance enhancement film whichincludes two layers having different refractive indexes that arelaminated. Alternatively, the optical sheet need not include a luminanceenhancement film.

The liquid crystal panel 300 may include a liquid crystal layer 3, alower panel 100, and an upper panel 200 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The lower panel 100 may include a lower insulation substrate 110, afirst buffer layer 117, a lower polarizer 11, and an interlayer bufferlayer 157.

The first buffer layer 117 is formed on a lower insulation substrate 110which includes a transparent glass, and/or a plastic panel. The firstbuffer layer 117 may include an insulating material such as siliconoxide (SiOx) or silicon nitride (SiNx).

The lower polarizer 11 is formed on the first buffer layer 117.

The lower polarizer 11 is a reflective polarizer. The lower polarizer 11includes metal wires 111, gaps 114, and a light blocking film 112. Themetal wires 111 and gaps 114 are positioned in a transmissive area (TA)which transmits light from the backlight unit 500. A reflective area(RA) reflects substantially all light from the backlight unit 500.

The metal wires 111, formed in the transmissive area (TA), extend in adirection perpendicular to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 and arespaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance. A gap 114 maybe positioned between two adjacent metal wires of the metal wires 111.The gap 114 may include a width smaller than a wavelength of the lightthat the backlight unit 500 provides. For example, the gap may have awidth of several tens to hundreds of nm. The metal wires 111 may havevarious widths. For example, the metal wires 111 have a widthsubstantially similar to that of the gap 114 between the metal wires111. A thickness of the metal wires 111 may vary depending on a materialof the metal wires 111 ranging from several tens to hundreds of nm. Forexample, a thickness of the metal wires 111 may have a value at least2.5 times a width of the metal wires 111. When the metal wires 111 havea width of about 60 nm, a thickness thereof may be about 150 nm, and awidth of gap 114 between the metal wires 111 may be about 60 nm.Accordingly, when the plurality of metal wires 111 is extended in adirection perpendicular to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, lightvertical to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 may be transmitted whilelight parallel thereto may be reflected.

The gaps 114 are positioned between two adjacent metal wires 111 and thegaps 114 may be filled with air. Alternatively, the gaps 114 betweenmetal wires 111 may be filled with a material having a refractive indexsimilar to that of air.

The light blocking film 112 formed in the reflective area (RA) mayinclude a substantially same material as that of the metal wires 111.The light blocking film serves to reflect substantially all light fromthe backlight unit 500. An upper surface of the light blocking film 112is substantially level with that of the metal wires 111. For example,the light blocking film 112 and the plurality of metal wires 111 mayinclude Al, Au, Ag, Cu, Cr, Fe, and/or Ni. The light blocking film 112may have a substantially same height as that of the metal wires 111. Thelight blocking film 112, formed in the reflective area (RA), includes aperimeter aligned with that of a semiconductor layer 154 formed in thelower panel 100. According to an exemplary embodiment, the lightblocking film 112, in the reflective area (RA), may be disposed underthe light blocking member 220. Alternatively, the metal wires 111 andthe light blocking film 112 may be formed of different metals.

An interlayer buffer layer 157 is formed on the light blocking film 112of the lower polarizer 11. The light blocking film 112 may be overlappedsubstantially completely with the interlayer buffer layer 157. Theinterlayer buffer layer 157 may include an insulating material such assilicon oxide (SiOx) or silicon nitride (SiNx).

The semiconductor layer 154 is positioned on the interlayer buffer layer157. For example, the semiconductor layer 154 may be overlappedsubstantially completely with the interlayer buffer layer 157 and thelight blocking film 112. The semiconductor layer 154 may include varioussemiconductor materials such as amorphous silicon, poly-crystallinesilicon, single crystalline silicon, and semiconductor oxides. Thesemiconductor layer 154 may also include a group II element or a groupVI element along with silicon (Si). The semiconductor layer 154 mayinclude a source region 154-a, a drain region 154-b, and a channelregion (not shown). The channel region may be positioned between thesource region 154-a and the drain region 154-b.

The interlayer buffer layer 157 serves to prevent the semiconductorlayer 154 from being in contact with the light blocking film 112 of thelower polarizer 11 formed of a conductive material.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the light blocking film 112 mayinclude an area greater than that of the semiconductor layer 154. Insuch a case, the semiconductor layer 154 may be positioned within aperimeter of the light blocking film 112, thereby preventing light fromthe backlight unit 500 from being incident on the semiconductor layer154.

A gate insulating layer 140 covering some region of the semiconductorlayer 154 is formed on the semiconductor layer 154. The gate insulatinglayer 140 may include an insulating material such as silicon oxide(SiOx) and/or silicon nitride (SiNx).

A gate electrode 124 is formed on the gate insulating layer 140. Thegate electrode 124 is disposed on the semiconductor layer 154 with thegate insulating layer 140 interposed therebetween. A boundary of thegate electrode 124 may be aligned with that of the gate insulating layer140. A channel region (not shown), positioned in the semiconductor layer154, may be positioned under the gate insulating layer 140 and gateelectrode 124. The gate electrode 124 is connected with a gate line (notshown) to receive gate voltage.

A first passivation layer 180 is formed on the metal wires 111, theinterlayer buffer layer 157, the semiconductor layer 154, the gateinsulating layer 140, and the gate electrode 124. The first passivationlayer 180 may include an inorganic insulating material.

A second passivation layer 185 is formed on the first passivation layer180. The second passivation layer 185 may include an organic insulatingmaterial.

Contact holes 181 and 182 are formed in the first passivation layer 180and the second passivation layer 185 and respectively expose the sourceregion 154-a and the drain region 154-b of the semiconductor layer 154.

A source electrode 173 and a drain electrode 175 are formed on thesecond passivation layer 185. The source electrode 173 is connected withthe source region 154-a of the semiconductor layer 154 through the firstcontact hole 181. The drain electrode 175 is connected with the drainregion 154-b of the semiconductor layer 154 through the second contacthole 182. The source electrode 173 is connected with a data line (notshown) to receive data voltage.

According to an exemplary embodiment, either the first passivation layer180 or the second passivation layer 185 may be omitted.

A third passivation layer 187 is formed on the second passivation layer185, the source electrode 173, and the drain electrode 175. The thirdpassivation layer 187 may include an inorganic insulating material or anorganic insulating material.

The third passivation layer 187 has a third contact hole 183 exposing apart of the drain electrode 175.

A pixel electrode 190 is formed on the third passivation layer 187. Thepixel electrode 190 includes a transparent conductor such as ITO (indiumtin oxide), and/or IZO (indium zinc oxide). The pixel electrode 190 isformed in a region corresponding to the transmissive area (TA) of thelower polarizer 11. The pixel electrode 190 is connected to the drainelectrode 175 through the third contact hole 183.

A thin film transistor illustrated in FIG. 1 may have a structure formedby a self align method. The thin film transistor includes the gateelectrode 124, the source electrode 173, and the drain electrode 175.The thin film transistor also includes the source region 154-a and thedrain region 154-b disposed in the semiconductor layer 154. The sourceregion 154-a is connected to the source electrode 173, and the drainregion 154-b is connected to the drain electrode 175. The thin filmtransistor, in response to a control signal applied to the gate, outputsdata voltage of the source electrode 173 to the drain electrode. Voltageoutput to the drain electrode 175 is transmitted to the pixel electrode190. The voltage applied between the pixel electrode 190 and the commonelectrode 270 generates an electric field along with the commonelectrode 270 of the upper panel 200, changing an alignment direction ofliquid crystal molecules 310.

An alignment layer (not shown) may be formed on the pixel electrode 190.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a lower polarizer 11 includes anin cell type polarizer formed on the lower insulation substrate 110.

Hereinafter, an upper panel 200 will be described.

An upper polarizer 21 is formed under an upper insulation substrateincluding a transparent glass, and/or a plastic plate.

The upper polarizer 21 is a reflective polarizer and includes metalwires 211. The metal wires 211 extend in a direction perpendicular tothe cross-sectional view and are spaced apart from each other at apredetermined distance. A gap 214 is positioned between two adjacentmetal wires of the metal wires 211. The gap 214 is smaller than awavelength of light from the backlight unit 500 and has a width ofseveral tens to hundreds nm. The metal wires 211 may have variouswidths. For example, the metal wires 211 have a width substantiallysimilar to the gap 214 between metal wires 211. A thickness of the metalwires 211 may vary depending on a material of the metal wires 211, andmay have a width of several tens to hundreds of nm. For example, thethickness of the metal wires 211 has a value three times more than awidth of the metal wires 211. Accordingly, when metal wires 211 extendin a direction perpendicular to the cross-sectional view, light verticalto the cross-sectional view may be transmitted while light parallel tothe cross-sectional view may be reflected.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the upper polarizer 21 may have alight blocking film substantially similar to that of the lower polarizer11. Further, the upper polarizer 21 may include an absorptive polarizerincluding a TAC (Tri-Acetyl-Cellulose) layer and/or a PVA (polyvinylalcohol) layer.

In an exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the upper polarizer 21 isformed as an on cell type positioned on the upper insulation substrate210. In this case, the upper polarizer 21 may further include a layercovering the metal wires 211 and the gap 214 thereof. Alternatively, theupper polarizer 21 of FIG. 1 may be formed as an in cell type disposedunder the upper insulation substrate 210.

A light blocking member 220, a color filter 230, and a common electrode270 are formed under the upper polarizer 21 of the upper panel 200according to an exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, at least one or allof the light blocking member 220, the color filter 230, and the commonelectrode 270 may be positioned in the lower panel 100. A structureunder the upper insulation substrate 210 of the upper panel 200 in FIG.1 will be described as follows.

The light blocking member 220 is formed under the upper insulationsubstrate 210. The light blocking member 220 is called a black matrix.The black matrix prevents light leakage. The light blocking member 220faces a pixel electrode 190 and is formed in a part corresponding to agate line (not shown) and a data line (not shown) and in a partcorresponding to a thin film transistor, thus preventing light leakagebetween the pixel electrodes 190. The light blocking member 220 ispositioned in the reflective area (RA), encroaching on a part oftransmissive area (TA) where light from the backlight unit 500 istransmitted. The encroaching portion of the light blocking member 220may overlap with the pixel electrode 190.

A color filter 230 is formed under the upper polarizer 21 and the lightblocking member 220. The color filter 230 covers the opening of thelight blocking member 220 and may extend in a vertical direction. Thecolor filter 230 may display one primary color such as red, green orblue.

An overcoat 250 is formed under the color filter 230 and the lightblocking member 220. The overcoat 250 may include an insulatingmaterial, for example an organic insulating material, having a flatsurface, preventing the color filter 230 from being exposed.Alternatively, the overcoat 250 may be omitted.

The common electrode 270 is formed under the overcoat 250. The commonelectrode 270 includes a transparent conductor such as ITO (indium tinoxide), and/or IZO (indium zinc oxide).

An alignment layer (not shown) may be formed under the common electrode270.

A liquid crystal layer 3 is formed between the upper panel 200 and thelower panel 100.

The liquid crystal layer 3 includes a liquid crystal molecule 310 havinga dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal molecule 310 may have a longaxis which is vertical or horizontal to the surfaces of two displaypanels 100 and 200 in a state that no electric field is applied. Analignment direction of the liquid crystal molecule 310 is changed by avertical electric field generated by the pixel electrode 190 and thecommon electrode 270. For example, the pixel electrode 190 is physicallyand electrically connected with the drain electrode 175, receives datavoltage from the drain electrode 175, and generates an electric fieldalong with the common electrode 270 that receives a common voltage,thereby determining a direction of the liquid crystal molecules 310 ofthe liquid crystal layer 3 between two electrodes 190 and 270.Accordingly, polarization of light passing through the liquid crystallayer 3 varies according to a direction of liquid crystal molecules asdetermined above. The pixel electrode 190 and the common electrode 270constitute a capacitor (hereinafter, referred to as “liquid crystalcapacitor”) to maintain the applied voltage even after the thin filmtransistor is turned off.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the common electrode 270 is formedin the upper panel 200. Alternatively, the common electrode 270 may beformed in the lower panel 100 and may be formed in the same materiallayer as that of the pixel electrode 190. Alternatively, the commonelectrode 270 may be formed over or below the pixel electrode 190. Atthis time, the liquid crystal molecule 310 formed in the liquid crystallayer 3 has a long axis which is horizontal to the surfaces of twodisplay panels 100 and 200 in a state that no electric field is applied,and may rotate within a horizontal surface by the horizontal electricfield generated by the pixel electrode 190 and the common electrode 270.

Hereinafter, reflective and transmissive characteristics of lightprovided by a backlight unit 500 will be described.

In FIG. 2, the blocking film 112 of the lower polarizer 11 reflectssubstantially all of light originated from the backlight unit 500. Thereflected light from the blocking film 112 is reflected again by areflective sheet (not shown) of the backlight unit 500 and the reflectedlight re-enters into the gaps 114 of the lower polarizer 11. The lightwhich passes through the transmissive area (TA) becomes a polarizedlight. According to an exemplary embodiment, the lower polarizer 11increases light efficiency by recycling the light reflected from thelight blocking film 112.

In the transmissive area (TA), light having a polarization axis parallelto the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 is reflected. The reflected lightfrom the transmissive area (TA) is reflected from the reflective sheet(not shown) of the backlight unit 500 into the transmissive area (TA) ofthe lower polarizer 11. According to an exemplary embodiment, the lowerpolarizer 11 increases light efficiency by recycling the light reflectedfrom the transmissive are (TA).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower polarizer 11 recycles lightreflected away from the lower polarizer 11 and as a result, increaseslight efficiency.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of a lower panel 100 will bedescribed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionthrough FIGS. 3 to 11.

FIGS. 3 to 11 are cross-sectional views sequentially illustrating amethod of manufacturing a lower panel according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a first buffer layer 117 is laminated on atransparent insulation substrate 110. The first buffer layer 117 mayinclude silicon oxide or silicon nitride. A metal layer 111′ islaminated on the first buffer layer 117. When it is patterned accordingto process steps that will be explained below, the metal layer 111′ ispatterned and becomes metal wires 111 and a light blocking film 112. Themetal layer 111′ may include Al, Au, Ag, Cu, Cr, Fe, and/or Ni. Next, ahard mask layer 111-1 is laminated on the metal layer 111′. Then, aresin 111-2 is laminated on the hard mask layer 111-1. A mold 111-3 isapplied to the resin 111-2 to form a linear pattern in the resin 111-2.The linear pattern will serve to pattern the hard mask layer 111-1. Thelinear pattern of the resin 111-2 includes a periodic array of linesthat are spaced apart at a predetermined distance smaller than awavelength of visible light. The linear pattern of the mold 111-3 isformed by an engraving method. According to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, the mold 111-3 may include the linear patternarranged in all regions regardless of the transmissive area (TA) and thereflective area (RA). As a result, the mold 111-3 may form an invertedpattern in all regions of the resin 111-2 regardless of the transmissivearea (TA) and the reflective area (RA).

In FIG. 4, it is shown that a hard mask pattern 111-1′ is formed usingthe pattern of the resin 111-2 as a etch mask. The pattern of the resin111-2 is transferred on the hard mask layer 111-1 to form the hard maskpattern 111-1′. Alternatively, the hard mask pattern 111-1′ may beformed by an embossing method.

In FIG. 5, a photo resist 111-4 is laminated on a structure resultedfrom the manufacturing step of FIG. 4. The photo resist 111-4 islaminated on the metal layer 111′ and the hard mask pattern 111-1′.

In FIG. 6, the photo resist 111-4 is patterned so that a photo resistpattern 111-4′ remains on the reflective area (RA). The photo resist111-4 is exposed by the mask 111-5, and then the exposed photo resist111-4 is developed to form the photo resist pattern 111-4′. Then, thephoto resist 111-4 formed in the transmissive area (TA) is removed, andthe photo resist 111-4 formed in the reflective area (RA) becomes thephoto-resist pattern 111-4′. As a result, a perimeter of the photoresist pattern 111-4′ remaining after development may be aligned with apart of the metal layer 111′ which will be a light blocking film 112.

In FIG. 7, the metal layer 111′ is etched to form metal wires 111 usingthe photo resist pattern 111-4′ and the hard mask pattern 111-1′ as aetch mask.

In FIG. 8, the photo resist pattern 111-4′ and the hard mask pattern111-1′ are removed to form the metal wires 111 and the light blockingfilm 112.

In FIG. 9, a preliminary interlayer buffer layer 157′ is formed on astructure resulted from the process step of FIG. 8. A preliminarysemiconductor layer 154′ is laminated thereon. A photo resist pattern111-6 is formed on the preliminary semiconductor layer 154 by performingexposure and development processes. In the exposure process, a mask thatis substantially the same as that used in forming the photo resistpattern 111-4′ of FIG. 6 may be used. For example, the mask 111-5 thatis used for forming the photo resist pattern 111-4′ of FIG. 6 may beused for forming the photo resist pattern 111-6 of FIG. 9. As a result,the photo resist pattern 111-6 is formed only on the light blocking film112 of the lower polarizer 11. For example, a perimeter of the photoresist pattern 111-6 is aligned with that of the light blocking film112. The light blocking film 112 is formed in the reflective area (RA).The photo resist pattern 111-6 is also used as an etch mask to form thesemiconductor layer 154 and the interlayer buffer layer 157. Forexample, the preliminary semiconductor layer 154′ may be patterned toform the semiconductor layer 154 by using the photo resist pattern 111-6as an etch mask. The preliminary interlayer buffer layer 157′ may bepatterned to form the interlayer buffer layer 157 using the photo resistpattern 111-6 as an etch mask.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, manufacturing steps will beexplained to form a thin film transistor on the light blocking film 112.The thin film transistor serves to drive liquid crystals and the lightblocking film 112 prevents light from the backlight 500 of FIG. 1 fromilluminating the thin film transistor, which will reduce photo currentsthat light may generate in a semiconductor layer of the thin filmtransistor. For example, the semiconductor layer may include a siliconlayer.

In FIG. 10, a gate electrode 124 and a gate insulating layer 140 areformed on the semiconductor layer 154. For example, a preliminary gateinsulating layer (not shown) and a metal layer (not shown) aresequentially deposited on the semiconductor layer 154. Aphotolithographic process may be applied to form the gate electrode 124and the gate insulating layer 140.

In FIG. 11, a first passivation layer 180 is laminated on the structureresulting from the manufacturing process of FIG. 10, and then a secondpassivation layer 185 is laminated thereon. For example, the firstpassivation layer 180 may include an inorganic insulating material andthe second passivation layer 185 may include an organic insulatingmaterial. A first contact hole 181 and a second contact hole 182 areformed in the first and the second passivation layers 180 and 185 toexpose a source region and a drain region of the semiconductor layer154. A metal layer (not shown) is laminated thereon and is etched toform a source electrode 173 and a drain electrode 175. In forming thefirst passivation layer 180, the first passivation layer 180 does notfill the gaps 114, thereby forming voids filled with air. Alternatively,a material having a refractive index corresponding to air may fill withthe gaps before the first passivation layer 180 is formed.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a third passivation layer 187 is formedon the structure resulting from the manufacturing process of FIG. 11.The third passivation layer 187 may cover the second passivation layer185, the source electrode 173 and the drain electrode 175. For example,the third passivation layer 187 may include an inorganic insulatingmaterial and/or an organic insulating material. Then, the contract hole183 is formed in the third passivation layer 187, to expose a part ofthe drain electrode 175. A pixel electrode 190 is formed on the part ofthe drain electrode 175 and on the third passivation layer 187. Forexample, the pixel electrode 190 may include a transparent conductivematerial such as ITO (indium tin oxide), and/or IZO (indium zinc oxide).

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, thesemiconductor layer 154 and the light blocking film 112 of the lowerpolarizer 11 may be formed by using a same mask and as a result, mayreduce the number of masks necessary to manufacture a liquid crystaldisplay. Also, since the light blocking film 112 of the lower polarizer11 blocks light incident from the backlight unit 500 on thesemiconductor layer 154, the semiconductor layer 154 does not generatephotocurrent arising from the incident light, so that reliability of adisplay device is increased.

In an exemplary embodiment, an upper polarizer 21 of the upper panel 200may include metal wires. The metal wires of the upper polarizer 21 maybe formed with the substantially same manufacturing process as those asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The upper polarizer 21 may include an absorptivepolarizer including a TAC (Triacetyl Cellulose) layer and a PVA(polyvinyl alcohol) layer.

While the present inventive concept has been shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail maybe made therein without departing from the sprit and scope of theinventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display, comprising: a transparent insulation substrate; a first polarizer comprising a light blocking film and a first plurality of metal wires, the first polarizer disposed on the transparent insulation substrate; an interlayer buffer layer disposed on the light blocking film, the interlayer buffer layer having a perimeter aligned with a perimeter of the light blocking film; a semiconductor layer disposed on the interlayer buffer layer, the semiconductor layer having a perimeter directly aligned with a perimeter of the interlayer buffer layer; a thin film transistor disposed on the semiconductor layer, wherein the thin film transistor comprises a source region and a drain region; and a backlight unit disposed under the transparent insulation substrate, the backlight unit providing light to the transparent insulation substrate, wherein the light blocking film reflects substantially all of the light, and wherein gaps are disposed between the first plurality of metal wires.
 2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the interlayer buffer layer is disposed between the semiconductor layer and the light blocking film.
 3. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein a width of the gaps is less than a wavelength of the light provided by the backlight unit.
 4. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising a first buffer layer disposed between the transparent insulation substrate and the first polarizer.
 5. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the thin film transistor comprises a gate electrode and a gate insulating layer, the gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer.
 6. The liquid crystal display of claim 5, wherein the source and the drain regions are disposed in the semiconductor layer, and wherein the thin film transistor further comprises a source electrode connected to the source region and a drain electrode connected to the drain region.
 7. The liquid crystal display of claim 6, further comprising a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor.
 8. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the light blocking film and the first plurality of metal wires include a common metal including at least one of Al, Au, Ag, Cu, Cr, Fe, and Ni.
 9. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising a second polarizer comprising a second plurality of metal wires, the second plurality of metal wires spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance smaller than a wavelength of the light from the backlight unit.
 10. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the light blocking film is level with that of the first plurality of metal wires.
 11. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, wherein each of the first plurality of metal wires has a predetermined thickness and a predetermined width, the predetermined thickness being at least 2.5 times than the predetermined width.
 12. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the gaps include air. 